Does Your Commercial Building Look Dull? It Might Be Time to Paint!

If you own a retail business or corporate office building that is starting to lose its attractiveness and shine, it might be time for a new paint job. Painting the exterior of a commercial building is different than doing the same for a residence because different rules apply, thanks to the fact that commercial entities are different in almost every way than homes. Of course, once you learn the major differences involved and familiarize yourself with a few basic rules, painting a commercial building is a task that is actually quite simple and it is one that won’t cost you a lot of time or money either.

Consider the Building’s Size

As a general rule, a commercial building is bigger than a home so colors that are more neutral are usually recommended. Whereas navy blue or burgundy might look great for your home or condo, they can make a commercial building look less than professional. In addition, using neutral tones for commercial buildings does a better job of highlighting your business sign, logo, and even the surrounding buildings.

Take the Materials and the Architecture Into Consideration

This is where a professional paint store can offer a lot of assistance because it is sometimes difficult for a layperson to best determine which paint to use. If you have a Victorian building, using hues such as medium blue that are noticeable and white trim calls attention to the building and makes people take notice. Moreover, paint for stucco is different than paint for wood, which is different than the paint you’ll use for concrete. Again, checking with the professionals definitely helps because it will increase your odds of getting the best results in the end.

Consider How the Building’s Surroundings Look

First and foremost, building restrictions should always be checked out first because some business districts have a list of “do”s and “don’t”s when it comes to painting your commercial building. Otherwise, there are a few things to consider before painting the exterior of your business. If you own a law office, for example, sedate colors will likely work best whereas an ice cream parlor can look good in bold colors. Consider the lot size, the type of landscaping on the property, and the colors of the surrounding buildings as well as the walkways and driveways. Taking all these things into consideration can help you figure out the best paint color; of course, there are always experts around to lend you some advice in case you cannot do this on your own.

Don’t Give up Too Soon

All of these rules may feel a little overwhelming but the basics are actually quite simple. Make sure that your painters are licensed, insured, and experienced and talk to them beforehand about issues such as time frames and price. You should also complete the painting on the exterior of your building before starting on the interior in order to make sure that these two complement one another. Painting a commercial building doesn’t have to be complex, especially if you do your due diligence and learn as much as possible about the task, and it is also good to remember that help is always just a phone call away.